Danny Dyer begs EastEnders bosses to bring Mick back from the dead live on stage at NTAs

ACTOR Danny Dyer was left begging soap bosses to bring him back to EastEnders during last night's National Television Awards.

The 49-year-old star made the Mick Carter admission as he appeared at the glitzy annual ceremony to present one of the awards' top gongs.

Danny was at the O2 Arena ceremony to hand out the prize for New Drama alongside his co-star from upcoming Disney+ show Rivals, Katherine Parkinson.

As Danny made his way on stage, he said: "Hello O2, I've got to give a big shoutout to my EastEnders family over there!

"I love you and I miss yous.

"Bring Mick back," he then cheekily quipped before adding: "Do you think they should bring Mick back?"

The crowd whooped and cheered as Danny made the admission less than two years after opting to quit his role on the programme.

Danny played Mick for nine years before he was seemingly killed off when he was presumed dead after going missing at sea.

However, fans at the time were left unconvinced that Mick was actually dead as they pointed out his body wasn't found.

Now after his surprise NTAs admission, fans have gone wild once more that a Mick Carter return could be in the works just in time for the 40th anniversary.

Writing on X - formerly Twitter - one fan said: "Me screaming because Danny Dyer said bring Mick back at the NTA’s which in my head means the love story we will get to chose live on the 40th anniversary will be to have Mick & Linda’s you heard it here first #EastEnders #NTAs."

Another added: "Danny Dyer saying 'bring Mick back' basically confirms Mick will come back during the 40th anniversary live episode 100% #EastEnders #NTAs."

As a third penned: "Danny Dyer begging for his job at EastEnders back wasnt in my bingo card for the #NTAs."

Before a fourth wrote: "Danny Dyer 'bring mick back!' haha legend. he wants to be an ender's lifer!"

Whilst Danny was full of praise for his EastEnders co-stars, the soap was left dealing with a shock defeat after being beaten to the night's top gong by ITV rivals Emmerdale.

The BBC soap went up against Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Hollyoaks and Casualty in the Serial Drama category at the annual awards ceremony.

Having won the category last year, the stars were clearly hoping to make it a back to back win.

But despite putting up a strong fight with big storylines like Keanu Taylor's death, The Six's subsequent cover up and the likes of Cindy Beale's shock return, it seems soap fans preferred the action in the fictional Yorkshire village.

Emmerdale has also had some big storylines this past year including Belle Dingle's harrowing abuse at the hands of husband Tom King, as well as the love triangle between Charity Dingle, Mackenzie Boyd and Chloe Harris leading to their car plunging over a ravine.

Paralympians Kadeena Cox and Dame Sarah Storey announced the news at the ceremony at London's O2 Arena tonight, with the Emmerdale cast going wild.